Coming to you in November 2014.
A Christmas anthology called 'A Season to Remember' - four stories full of love, romance, memories.
A wide variety of times, places, and engaging characters.
Funny, quirky, poignant, and sweet.
The world of author, Noelle Clark
About Me
- NOELLE CLARK - Author
- Queensland, Australia
- I'm an Australian author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Action/Adventure, and Historical fiction. I live in Queensland, Australia. www.noelleclark.net
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Steam Bunny - Sizzling new book from Felicity Kates
Canadian author, Felicity Kates, released her debut erotic novella, Steam Bunny, on 14th August. This is the first book from the ‘Little Miss Kick-Ass Series’.
Business is all about pleasure for Casey Jackson. Helping Lucas Haskell promote his graphic novel, Steam Bunny, is an erotic dream job. Until he gives her the ultimate ultimatum--commit or leave. She doesn't want his ring or the complications of marriage. But with a boss who knows what he wants and exactly how to get it, playing dress-up has never been so risky…or so much fun.
Erotic romance novella, containing adult language, naughty situations and steamy sex scenes. Recommended for readers aged 18+
Q. Is there any of you in your character Casey Jackson? Does she have any traits that you think might be a bit like you?
A. That is such a great question. Steam Bunny is written in first person from Casey’s point of view of the world. It was tons of fun putting on her shoes to write her character. She enjoys being bold and sexy and as a person I am much more quiet and definitely more reserved than she is. That being said, one day when I was writing the story my son happened to sneak a peek over my shoulder (thankfully it was a non-racy part!) and started giggling. So I asked what he found funny and he said, “Mom, Casey talks just like you.” So I guess I do have a bit of brazen, kick-ass in me somewhere too :-)
Q. You write two different genres – Steampunk and Contemporary Erotic Romance. Do you have difficulty writing under two different names and in two different areas?
A. Yes and no, lol. Maybe it’s because I’m a Gemini, but I love writing different genres and styles. Being able to switch it up keeps things fresh for me. I really enjoy research and the Victorian era and am a huge sci-fi as well as historical romance lover so writing Steampunk just naturally grew out of that. But sometimes I feel the urge to write more modern and sexy than what I can in a Steampunk world and so I dive into another erotic romance story. My only complaint is not having enough time each day to write all the ideas buzzing in my head.
Q. Do you have other calls on your time, for example family or a day job?
A. Oh yes. It’s a struggle to strike some kind of balance between all the aspects of my life. I used to beat myself up about that as oftentimes I’d feel like I failed. On a daily basis, my scheduled writing time would get eaten up by the need to deal with a crisis or two. And on the home front, my house was (and usually is) a mess, and yeah even though I know, especially as a mom, that it’s better to chop up fresh veggies and cook dinner, sometimes it takes less mental energy to just pick up McDonald’s on the race home from work. But then I decided to toss all that frustration and guilt out the window, and focus on the fact that I really am blessed. I have a loving and supportive husband and son. And my day job as a manager, helping people with disabilities, is very rewarding. I’ve learned that for me, the trick is to be flexible. Each day will always bring new challenges so why stress about it? I find the spaces between the chaos and fill them up with the thing I love doing most in the world...writing :-). And because I’m not stressing about it, I’m more productive for it.
Q. What was the hardest scene to write in Steam Bunny?
A. The whole story was fun to write, but if I had to pick a hard scene it would be the right-after-the-black-moment scene. At the time it was a bit of a struggle to get the tone right, but it’s now by far my favourite chapter.
Q. I must admit, I love the sound of your hero, Lucas Haskell. Is there any actor who you visualized when you were writing about him? Can you share a pic, or perhaps the painting you did
A. I didn’t have a specific actor in mind, but I knew he had a commanding presence with a devilish sparkle in his blue eyes and dark hair. So when I sat down to actually paint Lucas, I worked with photo reference of various guys I found interesting to look at. This was the end result:
Boy, you are a very talented gal! This painting is awesome!
Q. Casey seems to have a commitment phobia? Does she equate marriage to a loss of freedom? Or is she more worried about losing the excitement of her current dream job?
A. Casey has trust issues for sure. When she was thirteen, her parents went through a nasty divorce that left her feeling insecure about marriage. She’s also a bit non-conformist. She deeply loves Lucas, but the idea of being tied down as someone’s Mrs. with a white picket fence and having the neighbours over for weekend barbecues…well it makes her want to run screaming for the hills. Lucas, for his part, thinks he’s found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. No way in hell is he willing to let another man ever have her. He loves Casey’s brazen excitement and everything else about her. In his mind they are perfect together. His problem is trying to convince her of that, which he finds very, ah…creative ways to do in the book. He’s a pretty smart guy.
Q. This book, Steam Bunny, is the first in the Little Miss Kick-Ass series. What can readers expect from Book 2 in the series?
A. Book 2, which I’m currently writing, is called Fit To Be Tied. It picks up where Steam Bunny leaves off and follows the relationship of Casey’s BFF, Astrid Bitten, and her nemesis/love interest, Race Lindstrom. Readers can expect another steamy battle of wills between a feisty heroine and an alpha hero. Race is not happy with how things end in Steam Bunny. He’s determined exact revenge on Astrid and show her who’s boss by using any pleasurable means possible, including some inventive new handcuffs and a weekend spent in an ice hotel. Will Astrid resist? You bet she will. She has her own ideas about how their relationship works and especially about who’s in charge. Fit To Be Tied is due out this December.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Noelle. It’s been an honour and a pleasure!
Thank you so much for visiting and letting me interview you.
There is nothing like seeing a book come to fruition. The years of hard work, the sacrifice, but more so the joy of sharing a story with the world, if only because FINALLY the characters that have been nattering in my head now can natter in other people’s heads and come alive :)
Steam Bunny by Felicity Kates. Out now at Amazon and other e-book retailers!
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes and Noble - Nook
iTunes
Page Foundry
Felicity Kates writes fun, flirty, fantasies for modern lovers. As Kate Reedwood, she writes Victorian romance set in a Steampunk world. Together they are one busy lady, doing what she loves to do best--creating romantic tales for the world to enjoy.Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Engaging the Enemy - sensational new book from Susanne Bellamy
Another sensational release from Australian author, Susanne Bellamy, is Engaging the Enemy. If her first two books - White Ginger, and One Night in Sorrento - are anything to go by, this novel, set in Melbourne, will be a runaway success.
Susanne, thanks so much for visiting me, and congratulations on the release of Engaging the Enemy. Last time I interviewed you, we were eagerly awaiting news of this release. (Click here to read previous interview with Susanne). I must say, I love the cover for this book and can't wait to read it.
Q. Susanne, I’ve enjoyed reading your previous books very much. I love exotic settings away from the every day. Yet here, in Engaging the Enemy, we have Melbourne as the setting for this charming story. What was the catalyst for choosing Melbourne?
Cities that care about their heritage and have made positive moves to protect buildings and byways have a different vibe. After walking along Swansdown Street from the Yarra River up to the university and exploring its ivy-covered buildings, we were returning to our hotel on a city tram. My head was full of these beautiful buildings and all things heritage when I spotted the abandoned building that inspired this book. What can I say? It felt right.
Q. Melbourne – sassy, sophisticated, cultured – rivals any city in the world for style and class. Is there something in how you have depicted this great city in Engaging the Enemy that means the story could not have been set in a comparable city, such as London or New York?
Cosmopolitan but with an elegant charm and one of our oldest cities, Melbourne has the history and the heritage attitude I needed to make this story work. It’s quite different from other Australian cities (though part of Adelaide could possibly substitute) and the atmosphere is not replicated in any overseas city I’ve visited. I needed an Australian city because of the story behind the building’s ownership and also a city in which preservation of buildings with sufficient age is well-catered for in council laws. I don’t believe it would be the same story in a different location. I’m not saying that many other cities don’t protect their heritage. They do, but Melbourne provided the confluence of elements my story needed.
Q. Andie, your heroine, sounds like a determined yet warm-hearted girl. Do you share Andie’s social conscience regarding her resolve to provide a safe haven for women and families in need?
I do, and I have the greatest admiration for those who work in this area. Australia has had a decent record in the area of caring for those who are vulnerable, although our current political climate is less reassuring; too many social justice programmes are under threat with the present government. I wanted a heroine who wanted to make a difference to the lives of those who, through no fault of their own, are in difficulty and cannot cope with the hand fate has dealt them.
Needless to say, she doesn’t know the hero shares her values. At least, not for a while! ;)
Q. How does Andie cope with the dichotomy of, on one hand, a very honourable and self-less ambition; and on the other, a web of deceit?
Great question! Andie hates lies and can’t tell a lie to save herself. This places her in the occasional humorous situation as she attempts to be what she thinks she isn’t which lies at the heart of her dilemma. She is confronted by the need to tell what seems a lesser lie in order to save the building for the families depending on her and her friend, Lexie. She questions what she is doing and the need for deceit causes her more than a moment of angst.
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| Plush interior of the Langham |
Tram rides
Cultural precinct
Fabulous food and coffee
My daughter lives there!
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| Fabulous Melbourne beach-side eatery |
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| Beautiful Flinders Street Station - the oldest train station in Australia (c 1910) |
Q. Do Amelie (from White Ginger), Rhiannon (from One Night in Sorrento), and Andie – your latest heroine in Engaging the Enemy - have anything in common?
Each of them is an intelligent and independent woman though in different areas; Amelie is artistic and works as a fabric designer; Rhiannon is an engineer who has worked with her step-father to build a revolutionary engine; Andie is creative, (especially when it comes to hare-brained ideas!) but stubborn in asking for help. Mind you, she can fix almost anything and has a set of tools that would tear the heart out of most men.
They share certain attitudes and values; honesty, integrity, loyalty and family. And the ability to find the most gorgeous men! I haven’t yet created a heroine in need of redemption but that’s not to say I won’t further down the track.
I do love its simplicity and clean lines for a start, and the colour choice. Originally I expected to see a watermark of an old building in the background since the central conflict is around ownership/possession of the building. But I love the tux over the bare chest look; it relates to a scene in chapter one!
Q. Similarly, the title is stunning. I love a little bit of alliteration. It’s catchy, unforgettable, and enticing. How many iterations did this title go through to get to this one?
At least four. As a work-in-progress, it was “Merger in Melbourne”; I love alliteration too! The suggestion to make it ‘higher concept’ led to the first name change, “Besting the CEO” which was changed by my publisher to “Betting on the Boss”. For a short time, this was going to be its published title but my wonderful editor didn’t feel it captured the essence of the story and came up with “Engaging the Enemy”. It’s the best of all and is clever on several levels! I’d love to know what readers think!
Q. And now something about you. Now that your latest book is out there, what are you currently working on?
Three southeast Queensland author friends and I are working on a Christmas anthology titled A Season to Remember. Four novellas set in Christmases past, present and future... I decided to expand my horizons and write a story of Christmas in 2525 AD when the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. Look out for that in late November!
I am also one-fifth of a romantic suspense series, Emerald Quest, about a two hundred year quest for a fabulous emerald and diamond necklace that moves through New Orleans, Britain and Hawaii. I loved writing this for many reasons, not least of which was that I got the chance to revisit Hawaii but in 1960, just after statehood.
And I’m working on the first book in my own romantic suspense series. Her Mountain Man (working title) is the story of Dr Marcy Westwood and her research into an aphrodisiac in a remote part of Nepal. Needless to say, her hero is the mountain man!
A little too close to home! Besides, what excuse do I have for my next trip overseas if I set a novel at home!
Q. When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Travelling, reading, talking, including to our dog. Seriously, she has an amazing range of vocalisations! We also have a beautiful garden that entices me outdoors but sadly, I’m not the green thumb of our family. I can kill plants with too much kindness! I love scrapbooking and dabble in crafts from knitting and cross stitch to making my own necklaces. Obviously I don’t have enough creative outlets!
I’m currently on long service leave from my full time job as a high school teacher and loving the chance to write every day. I could get used to this life!
Thanks for hosting me, Noelle. I’ve loved being here.
One building, two would-be owners and a family feud that spans several generations: all relationships have their problems.
Andrea de Villiers can’t lie to save herself. But when developer, Matt Mahoney, buys the building she and a friend have established as a safe house in the Melbourne CBD, she decides that protecting The Shelter is more important than her aching heart. She will confront Mr Mahoney, and she will emerge victorious. There are no other options.
But Matt has other plans for Andie, and she soon finds herself ensnared in a web of well-meaning lies and benevolent deceit. To protect the building and the families that depend on her, Andie agrees to play the part of Matt’s fiancée, and play it convincingly.
But lies soon bleed into truth, and what was once a deception starts to feel all too real. Can Andie accomplish her goals and protect The Shelter, without losing her heart to the charming Irish developer?
People’s stories fascinate me. Past and present lives and relationships and the mysterious ways Fate works. Even how I met my husband—Fate. Wonderful and mysterious.
And so my stories explore people engaging with the mate that Fate created for them. And the wonderful and mysterious ways in which they meet. I should probably thank the flat-mate who locked me out of my new house years ago which led directly to meeting my husband. But that’s another story!
Escape
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